Gilia

There are around 25 species in this genus, both annual and perennial. They are found in warm parts of the Americas, relishing dry, even desert-like environments. A good number of them are found growing in desert areas of Utah, California and Mexico. The flowers are often of fragile appearance with slender stems, generally fine foliage and tapering trumpet-shaped flowers. Gilia stellata (Star Gilia) is purple, the yellow throat of the flower having purple dots. Gilia sinuata is entirely purple. Gilia latifolia has lavender pink flowers whilst Gilia longiflora produces lavender blue ones. In UK gardens the forms most likely to be found are Gilia tricolour with pale lilac flowers and Gilia achilleifolia having blue-violet blooms.